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Titans’ defense hopes to improve vs. Falcons

Jim Wyatt, Gannett Tennessee
5:23 p.m. CDT August 22, 2014

Unit has struggled early, still looking for identity

Coordinator Ray Horton said of his defense, “I am looking forward to putting it all together, and figuring out what kind of defense we’re going to be, though. Are we going to be a dominant run defense? Are we going to be a defense that’s good against the pass? I don’t know what we’re going to be yet. I’d like to find out.”
(Photo:
George Walker IV / THE TENNESSEAN
)

Story Highlights

Titans play Falcons in Atlanta on Saturday.

Without their starting quarterbacks, Saints and Packers scored on their first series.

ATLANTA – – Quarterback Aaron Rodgers didn’t suit up in the preseason opener against the Titans, but that didn’t keep the Packers from scoring a touchdown on their opening drive.

Quarterback Drew Brees was in street clothes last week against the Titans, but he had a pretty good view from the sideline as the Saints marched down the field for a touchdown on their opening possession.

Two preseason games, two forgettable starts for a defense that’s looking to build some kind of identity in new defensive coordinator Ray Horton’s first season with the Titans.

“Does it bother me? Yeah, I’d like to shut everybody out all the time. But that’s not going to happen,’’ Horton said. “I am looking forward to putting it all together, and figuring out what kind of defense we’re going to be, though. Are we going to be a dominant run defense? Are we going to be a defense that’s good against the pass? I don’t know what we’re going to be yet. I’d like to find out.”

“I do know we want our guys to start fast, and to start building something.”

The Titans will get another chance on Saturday night against the Falcons in preseason game No.3, and they won’t get a break from the other team’s starting quarterback this time. Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan is expected to play roughly a half against the Titans in what should be as close to a dress rehearsal for the regular season as a preseason game could provide.

Horton, who installed a 3-4 defensive scheme with the Titans this offseason, has liked some of what he’s seen so far, but he hasn’t liked the slow starts, or the inconsistency.

Against the Packers, the Titans didn’t defend the run very well early, but held their own on pass defense. Some sloppy playing conditions probably contributed to that, of course. Last week in New Orleans, the Titans fared much better against the run, but gave up way too many plays through the air.

Horton wants his first- and second-teamers to settle down and bow up. The Falcons should provide a good test for the regular season, he said.

Titans safety Bernard Pollard said anxious fans probably need to settle down as well. In Pollard’s words, the first two preseason games have been close to “street ball,” with little or no game-planning taking place.

“Nobody should be hitting the panic button. This is the preseason; it’s a new system for us all. We are all learning how to play through this thing with each other,’’ Pollard said.

“What is most important is to continue to look good. We want to start faster. What is lingering is that first drive. Going into this game, we want to get a three-and-out. We want to be a good defense that is stopping people after the first drive and sending a message of how it’s going to be.”